The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has lamented at the inadequacy of safety regulations and enforcement by its regulatory body, the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN).
The president of NSE Engr. Otis Anyaeji made this known at the public lecture and induction ceremony organized by the Apapa Branch of the association, titled: Maritime Equipment Handling: A Survey And Examination Of Shipping Handling Equipment, in Lagos, yesterday.
According to the President who was represented by his Vice, Engr. Mohammed Babagana, “The regulations are on ground but enforcement has always been an issue because we are all corrupt as a result of the moral decadence in the society.”
He further stated, “COREN is under the ministry of works, they cannot regulate the government if they are under the government. We have been advocating for them to be separated but they have been resisting because they get N200 million annual subvention from the Federal Government.
“They refuse to understand that the more they are independent the more they will be able to regulate engineering even in government projects and facilities.” He opined.
While speaking to the press, the Director of Matra Maritime and Accident Investigator Engr. Ndudi Onyibe who gave the public lecture said, “The lecture centered on inspection of cargo lifting gears, with the view of reducing the possibilities of failure.
He affirmed, “This is because we have been spending a lot of money in recent times on insurance claims due to failure of these machineries, resulting to injuries to personnel on the ship and stevedores, also damage to ship, damage to equipment and even damage to the cargo itself.
That is the essence of this lecture. As inspectors our duty is to ensure that ports handling equipments are in the best working condition until the next inspection, so that there will be reduced rates of incidents of accidents and loss of manpower.” He said.
Onyibe pointed out that after inspection it becomes the responsibility of the users to keep the equipments in that condition until the next inspection, stressing that those on the ship are competent enough to do the job and therefore does not need any monitoring and if they do not comply with standards, as an inspector he has the authority to withdraw their Certificates of Operation (CoO) until they comply.
By Ifeoma Oguamanam
